The January, 2007 Vol. 23, No. 1 $5.95 CarouselNews & Trader INSIDEINSIDE THISTHIS ISSUE:ISSUE: FromFrom IdoraIdora ParkPark toto Brooklyn;Brooklyn; PTCPTC #61#61 isis BackBack Pt.Pt. DefianceDefiance ZooZoo WelcomesWelcomes TheirTheir NewNew CarouselCarousel BushnellBushnell ParkPark inin CTCT GetsGets aa MuchMuch NeededNeeded RestorationRestoration CarouselsCarousels OpenOpen YearYear RoundRound Carousel News & Trader, January 2007 www.carouselnews.com 1 The National Carousel Association 2007 Technical Conference Keeping in Touch North Salt Lake City, Utah April 26 - 29, 2007 On Day One of the conference, participants will visit the following locations: • The 1950s vintage Carousel at Liberty Park • Trolley Square (historic mission-style collection of vintage trolley-car barns) Lagoon Theme Park Carousel • Private tour of The Family History Library (billions of free family tree, family history, ancestry, genealogy and census records). • The c.1906 Herschell-Spillman Menagerie Carousel at Lagoon Theme Park. On Day Two, conference goers will be presented with unparalleled state-of-the-art presentations from some of the foremost experts in the carousel field. Workshops will include: • Carousel Maintenance and Safety Issues • Use of NCA and Utah State Archives • Using the Internet to Inform and Promote Your Carousel • History of Utah Carousels and Their Builders * New Carousel Videos (after dinner entertainment) Liberty Park Carousel This year’s tech conference will also provide an opportunity to learn about Utah’s present and past history of its carousels, including the 1910 Looff carousel which operated from 1910 to 1957 at Saltair Park and for another thirty years in American Fork, Utah. Friends of Utah’s carousels are encouraged to attend and will learn from carousel owners, operators and en- thusiasts from around the country with the goal of beginning a carousel friends group in that state. For more information please contact: Al Noren 7061 So. Quince St. Centennial, Co. 80112 303-779-1090 [email protected] CLASSIC CAROUSEL FOR SALE PTC #15 was created in 1907 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Carousel Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was carved by their premier carver, Leo Zoller. PTC #15 is the most historic, mint-restored carousel in the world. PTC #15 was the first four-abreast park carousel produced by this distinguished manufacturer. In their attempt to impress and dominate the marketplace, PTC created this signature carousel. Their artful management, special features and enlarged proportions created this stunning and dazzling masterpiece. The complete ensemble is as follows: 52 horses 2 famous lovers chariots 2 boys in a cherubs chariot Period ticket booth 153 Wurlitzer band organ Authentic ring machine complete with light panel 656 ceramic light fixtures Massive authentic carousel-control fence PTC #15 has a 52 ft. span and is mechanically unrivaled. Auspiciously, 78 years after its creation, this American treasure came to the attention of the International Museum of Carousel Art. Under their expertise and control, no expense was spared to return this captivating machine to its original intoxicating splendor. Meticulous attention to detail and technical upgrades have mechanically prepared #15 to run smoothly for another 100 years. PTC #15 had an appropriate resurrection debut at the 1986 World’s Fair in Vancouver, BC, Canada. It moved from there to Puente Hills, California. Its pristine 1907 elegance that excites all the senses can be experienced in West Nyack, New York, where it is presently operating. Also available: 3-Abreast Restored Spillman, and 2-Row Unrestored Spillman Wanted: Executive Director International Museum of Carousel Art seeking Director to administrate museum. Salary commensurate with experience. Contact: Duane Perron (541) 806-8068 Email: [email protected] ON THE COVER Once the pride of Idora Park, PTC #61 is now the pride of Brooklyn, NY thanks to Jane Walentas and her 22 year restoration. Photo by John Caruso In this issue: Santa Visits .................................................... 5 Dan’s Desk .................................................... 6 Santa during his visit to the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum in Leavenworth. Dave Moppin, (Santa), one of the volun- Carver’s Corner ............................................... 8 teers at the museum is from Lansing, KS, and the beard is really his. “He is really booked up this time of year, so I Collectibles and Miniatures ....................... 10 was lucky to get him in on short notice,” said Jerry Rein- hardt, museum director. Bushnell Park Restoration .......................... 12 The Carousel News & Trader Pt. Defiance Zoo Carousel ........................... 13 11001 Peoria Street • Sun Valley, CA 91352-1631 Phone/Fax: 818-332-7944 Email: [email protected] PTC #61, Now Jane’s Carousel ..................... 21 Web: http://www.carouselnews.com Restoring a Treasure ................................. 27 Daniel Horenberger ..................................... Publisher Roland Hopkins ................................. Managing Editor Noreene Sweeney ........................... Associate Editor A Look Back at Idora Park .......................... 31 Ted McDonald ............................................ Webmaster Lisa McDonald ........................................... Controller Year Round Carousels .................................... 33 Founding Editor, Nancy Lynn Loucks (1985-1992) Subscriptions: IMCA Open House ................................... 43 (12 Issues per year) $35 per year U.S. • $65 two years $55 per year Canada • $95 per year Foreign Classifieds .................................................... 44 (U.S. funds) THE CAROUSEL NEWS & TRADER, 11001 Peoria Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352-1631 Phone/Fax (818) 332-7944. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: U.S., $35.00 per year; Canada, $55.00 in U.S. funds; all other foreign, $95.00 in U.S. funds. (No foreign checks accepted). U.S. dollar Money Orders, American Express, VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. Back issues: See ad in this issue. Publishing monthly by The Carousel News & Trader, LLC Founding Editor: Nancy Lynn Loucks, 1985 to 1992. Publisher: Daniel Horenberger. Man- aging Editor: Roland Hopkins. Associate Editor: Noreene M. Sweeney. Printed at Lithtex Northwest, Bellingham, WA. Regular Contributing Writers: As submitted. Regular Contributing Photographers: As submitted. The views and opinions expressed by contributors to this publication are not necessarily those of the editor. The Carousel News & Trader reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. THE CAROUSEL NEWS & TRADER is published by The Carousel News & Trader 11001 Peoria Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352. Email: [email protected], web: www.carouselnews.com STANDARD RATE POSTAGE paid at print/mailing facility. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE CAROUSEL NEWS & TRADER, 11001 Peoria Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352-1631. 4 www.carouselnews.com Carousel News & Trader, January 2007 Happy New Year from The Carousel News & Friends Mary Lyon (center) with friends Amy, Marcelle and Santa at the Eldridge Park Carousel holiday celebration. Santa Dave at the C. W. Parker Museum again, this time aboard an old cutter from the First City Museum, in Leav- enworth, that it borrows for photo opportunities during the holidays. The reindeer were also made in Leavenworth by Theel Manufacturing Co. Carl Theel worked for Paul Parker, C.W.’s son, in the early 1950s. I think it’s safe to say that Bob Lyon was a good boy this year. (See if you can spot the unlikely caroler below.) Above, Santa makes his visit to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonowanda, NY. Carousel News & Trader, January 2007 www.carouselnews.com 5 Astroland Amusement From Dan’s Desk Park on Coney Island has Message from the publisher, Dan Horenberger been sold to make room for These are little bits of information that come across my a huge redevelopment of desk. Some will become bigger stories in future issues of 10-acres along the board- the CN&T; others are just passed-along information. walk. Plans include a three-story carousel and a This month the folks at the Santa Cruz Beach Board- roller coaster going through Brass walk in California bought the original Wurlitzer 165 band the buildings. The develop- Ring organ from the Looff carousel at San Francisco Playland ment company, headed by at the Beach Park. It had been in a collectors hands for Stanton Eskstut, said about years. 165 band organs are the biggest Wurlitzer organs the coaster “What we’re sketching right now is to how to used on carousels. It will be up and running this spring bring it into the water park, bring it around the cinema lob- while the original Ruth organ undergoes a complete res- bies, and integrate it around the carousel.” With a budget toration. A lot more to come on this story later. It’s great of $1.5 billion and an opening date of 2011, this is all well to see parks like Santa Cruz and Myrtle Beach not only down the road. We’ll see what happens. Like a lot of re- restore, but also add more organs to their parks. development ideas, they sound good and may look good During the last election, voters passed a proposition on paper, but the actual fruition is another story. Having to award the Tilden Park Carousel with a grant. Thank a city front that much money is yet to be seen. The good you to all of the citizens that voted to make the money news is that the Cyclone Roller Coaster has been saved available. Right now there is no news on